Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Participates in White House "Made in America" Showcase

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration (Coalition) was pleased to participate in highlighting products enabling deep space exploration during the second annual “Made in America” showcase of American products held today at the White House.

The President, Vice President, Members of Congress and Cabinet Secretaries welcomed companies from all 50 states to display and explain their American-made products.

The new generation of advanced spacecraft and launch vehicle designs were being highlighted at the event. The Orion spacecraft capsule that flew in space on the Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) on December 5, 2014 was displayed on the White House south lawn. This was likely the first time a flown spacecraft has ever been displayed at the White House. In addition, a large model of the Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle was on display to highlight the work being completed on this next-generation rocket.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is built by Lockheed Martin; the SLS rocket is built by Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Northrop Grumman; and the rocket’s Launch Platform/ Exploration Ground Systems is supported by Jacobs.

More than 16,000 suppliers in all 50 states contribute to these systems. Investment in a new generation of advanced spacecraft and rockets for space exploration enables NASA and its contractors to drive America’s economic growth, as companies work together to build advanced technologies that support long-duration human spaceflight, habitats in the orbit of the Moon, and landers and housing to support lunar research and development on the Moon’s surface and ultimately to send people to Mars and return them safely to Earth.

The Administration’s renewed commitment to America’s leadership in space and its bold vision for returning American astronauts to the Moon and beyond is driving development of advanced technologies that create new opportunities and businesses that contribute to America’s economic security.

Several companies also submitted testimonials detailing the important work they do with NASA and its impact on their company, including Coalition members AMRO Fabricating, Major Tool and Machine and Craig Technologies.

“The Coalition and its more than 60 member companies enthusiastically support American leadership of deep space exploration, exemplified by Orion, SLS and key exploration capabilities like the lunar Gateway,” said Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, President and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration. “In addition to human exploration, these missions will open opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders in science and commerce and will strengthen and extend U.S. relationships with our international partners. Together with public-private partnerships such as NASA’s NextSTEP program that is developing technologies for deep space habitats, and the Lunar CATALYST program that is advancing robotic landers, these activities will inevitably lead to new achievements in human exploration, lunar and planetary science, and to the growth of the human economic sphere, beginning in low Earth orbit and expanding outward to eventually encompass the lunar region and beyond.”

About the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration is a national organization of more than 70 space industry businesses and advocacy groups focused on ensuring the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology. Based in Washington D.C., the Coalition engages in outreach and education reinforcing the value and benefits of human space exploration and space science with the public and our nation’s leaders, building lasting support for a long-term, sustainable, strategic direction for our nation’s space program.